VA to TX in my new car

[jdbunda]

After the shipper I hired failed to even pick up my car for two weeks, I decided to go to plan B and drive it myself. So today I am flying to Virginia Beach to drive my new '86 Iris Blue Targa home to Austin.

The seller is amazed I would attempt this with a 25 year-old car that he has only used for short trips on sunny days (I hope he doesn't know something I don't know but it checks out as a solid car). I've got it in for service today getting a CV boot, I fly in tonight, and will drive away - tomorrow night in Durham, NC, then the next few days rolling back to Austin by a route TBD (suggestions welcome). Since it is a new-to-me car, and I do need to be back in a somewhat timely fashion, I suspect it will be mostly interstate cruising. Can't wait!

[Joe Bob]

Good Luck....read this thread. What do you carry at all times?

[javadog]

The Tail of the Dragon and the Blue Ridge Parkway come to mind. Lots of good roads in Arkansas, as well, like highway 7.

JR

[cbush]

^^^All good recommendations, but given your circumstances, I would head down through Atlanta, and get on HWY 10 as soon as possible. Nice easy cruise on the car and tires. Good luck!

[Scooter]

Have fun!!!

[mack6820]

i just moved back from Virginia Beach a couple years ago. I think I might have driven your car before when I was looking to buy one.
Anyway, I always took I95 to Atlanta, then I20 to Dallas. Its a very simple route when you just want to get there and not sight see. I did it for 17 years.
Tennessee is a VERY long state and can be a very boring drive if you take I64.

[paulgtr]

catch up with Girt! you're falling behind!

[sailchef]

Check the weather report, the southern route might be more weather friendly.

[vracer]

How old are your tires? I had to have TireRack deliver some so I could safely drive my car home. A midair or a blowout can spoil your whole day!

[agfours]

Good luck jdbunda. I'm also in Austin and taking delivery of my '85 Widebody Cab early next week. Looks like there's a spike in 3.2 Carrera immigration next week! Hope to see you around town.

[orange911]

There is a great mechanic near Durham if you find out something along the way that makes you nervous. His name is Chuck Miller (MIllersport) in Hillborough. He's great on early cars.

[chuckr]

If you go I-20 through north Louisiana, I'm in the northeast corner, Monroe. If you need anything.My mechanic is in Austin, I do my own work on my 88 911, if I cannot fix it, I trailer it to Austin...OK, Georgetown.

[rouxroux]

I'll cover the northwest Louisiana spot (right off I-20) I'm halfway between Chuck & Dallas.

[jdbunda]

Originally Posted by vracer

How old are your tires? I had to have TireRack deliver some so I could safely drive my car home. A midair or a blowout can spoil your whole day!

This is a great question - one I thought about a bit on the plane on the way here - a bit late, I know! I was so in the mind set of shipping it that I figured I would wait to see what I had when it arrived. I will definitely be giving them a hard look in the morning, and very possibly urgently looking for some. I don't have the luxury of waiting for Tire Rack ground shipping though!

[jdbunda]

Thanks all for the encouragement. Mac6820, the car was owned by a guy named Rudy A. - that the one you looked at?

I do know this - the weather here is NOT great - if it doesn't improve I will be on the interstate until it does...

[archtech]

Yeah for Austin Texas and more 911 guys!!

[OttoB]

I suspect the PPI you may have had showed up clean prior to your purchase and extended road trip? Otherwise, you might be in for some unexpected surprise if the seller was amazed about you taking such a long trip on the car... Bring your AAA card Gold Plus card to be on the safe side and let us know how the car behaved once you get back home... Good luck!

[rouxroux]

If you need/want tires by the time you reach Shreveport, Tire Rack has one of their huge warehouses here.

[ghamilton]

X1000 on tires, I thought mine were OK, till I had 100 miles on them and the fronts seperated. Only 2000 miles on the tires, but they were 8-9 years old. I was lucky; I was planning on driving her home from S Carolina to Boston after Intercity failed on reasonable delivery date.

For what you save on shipping spend on tires. More importantly check the date code.

Can't put a price on safety.

Good luck

[jdbunda]

To my surprise, the tires look ok. Not my first choice, they are Falkens, but they seem recent enough and in good enough shape to make the trip. The trouble with crappy tires - they wear like iron.

So I get to the PPI shop who has the car to replace CV boots, one of the PPI items, no drama, all is cool. I pay the man, and drive away. Not two miles away, the car starts bucking, down on power, stalls, restarts, won't idle. I am thinking great, this is what i need. Less than an eighth of a tank, could it be fuel? Coast into a gas station - literally - and top her up - presto, fixed. I am too relieved to be upset!

On the car - my PPI was a little shy on the cosmetics, the car has more minor flaws than expected, but it's still a decent 20 footer, which is in line with the price. Mechanically, it seems quite solid and ran like a top once the tank was full. I think the dampers are weak, but it tracks true and drives very well. It appears to have the usual upgrades, turbo a tie rods ends, valve covers, etc. The interior will need some cleaning, but it needs nothing major, drivers door a pocket is sagging a little. The disappointment is the paint which is a bit less nice than was represented, but it is a 25 year old car after all.

I was pleasantly surprised - the car isn't as noisy as I was worried it would be at speeds, the targa top is reasonably quiet, no whistles or squeaks, and it didn't leak In the rain.